🍝 From Short-Term Rentals to Spaghetti - Dec 2025 Skamania Cities Civic Recap

🏛 December 2025 - Skamania City Governments Round-Up

As 2025 came to a close, Skamania's city councils and commissions wrapped their final meetings of the year with budget approvals, public goodbyes, and major updates on everything from water bills and police contracts to tennis court grants and vacation rental regulations.

Here’s your detailed local government digest for December 2025.

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🌲 North Bonneville

📅 December 9 & 23 – Budget Season & Leadership Transition

North Bonneville’s final meetings of the year were marked by pragmatism, policy cleanup, and personal tributes as the city looked ahead to 2026 and reflected on a transformative eight-year mayoral term.

🧾 Budget Adoption:
The council passed Ordinance 1174, approving the 2026 city budget, and later Ordinance 1175 to adjust the current 2025 budget one final time before year-end.

Key budget actions included:

• A new $107,800 interlocal agreement with Skamania County for law enforcement services in 2026
• Local match approval for a $371,854 TIB pedestrian infrastructure grant, aimed at safer sidewalk connections
• Internal budget balancing to support rising operational costs without dipping into reserves

🚛 Fleet Updates:
The council passed Resolutions 592 and 593, allowing for:

• Purchase of a used dump truck from the Port of Skamania
• Surplus declaration of a city-owned tractor

👮 Public Safety & City Contracts:
Other key items approved:

• New CPA and website support contracts
• Authorization to update banking signers for 2026

🎤 Emotional Farewells:
The December 23rd meeting closed with moving tributes to outgoing Mayor Brian Sabo and Councilmember Travis Randall. Councilmembers noted Sabo had helped grow city reserves from $40,000 to over $1.3 million, while still investing in critical infrastructure. Randall praised his fellow councilors, even those he’d debated, for consistently putting the public interest first.

💬 As one speaker noted: “Despite how mean and cruel people can be, you kept getting it done.” Mayor Sabo himself added that he was looking forward to retirement pickleball, drawing laughter and applause.

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🏙️ Stevenson City Council

With thanks to the Documenters sharing their notes under CC-by-4.0.

📅 December 18 – Budget Gaps, Emergency Storm Response, and Service Cuts

Stevenson’s final City Council meeting of the year grappled with the financial squeeze tightening around small cities, made even more immediate by storm-related emergency declarations.

🌊 State of Emergency Declared
Due to flood risk and storm damage, the city and Skamania County declared a state of emergency on Dec. 18. The Sheriff’s Office and Emergency Operations Center (EOC) were actively tracking damages, deploying sandbags, and coordinating response. Fire Chief Ray Broughton reported they were unlikely to improve their fire rating due to unfunded state mandates, but praised his department’s preparedness and high marks for a volunteer force.

💸 2026 Salary Scale & Interlocal Contracts Approved
Council approved a 2.7% cost-of-living raise for staff, and voted through four major contracts with the County for:

• Law enforcement services ($321,457/year – with notable service reductions)
• Municipal court ($30,000/year)
• Prosecuting attorney ($24,000/year)
• Probation services ($22,800/year)

🔍 Of note: this year’s probation subsidy reflects the city now covering costs once passed to low-income probationers, as the ability to collect fees has eroded. Staff said this better reflects actual usage. Councilmember Cox questioned the lack of data provided during negotiations, and requested more consistent reporting.

🐕 Services Lost:
The Sheriff’s contract removes animal control, code enforcement, and mental health response—a sticking point for several councilmembers and community speakers. While some argued those services were already functionally unavailable, others (including the Sheriff herself) warned of real losses.

Councilmember Rice said the city wasn’t truly losing something it ever had at full strength: “They weren’t really providing it already.” Mayor Anderson pushed back, citing enforcement gaps like noise complaints and stray animals.

🗣️ Community Voices:

• Chuck Oldfield, former councilor, warned against approving a contract that eliminated key services without negotiation and called for a temporary funding extension.
• Mary Repar, environmental advocate, opposed new transmission lines and data centers near the Columbia River, calling for a pivot toward sustainable economic development and public-sector wages over private infrastructure. She returned later in the meeting to challenge the Sheriff’s interpretation of law enforcement responsibility and call for state-level advocacy to protect local mental health services.

🎤 Farewells & Legacy
Outgoing Mayor Scott Anderson was honored with a plaque and praise from colleagues. He reflected on his years of service and reminded attendees of long-term projects like the wastewater treatment plant, downtown improvements, and his deep concern for what-if future scenarios.

Council also recognized Michael Johnson for his term on the council, and acknowledged the transition of seats following the recent election, including a surprise shift in position assignments involving Erin Minnis and Tina van Pelt.

📅 December 21 – Water Bills & Capital Planning

💧 Water Billing System Frustration
The city continues to grapple with resident frustration over high utility bills, often tied to undetected water leaks. Several residents again raised concerns about:

• Lack of timely notifications about unusual usage
• Difficulty interpreting billing statements
• Delays in reading meters or issuing corrections

City staff acknowledged the pain points and promised relief was on the way: a new billing system is expected in early 2026, with automated usage alerts and better customer-facing tools. However, concerns linger about how soon those benefits will be felt, and how staff can support residents in the meantime.

🛠 Capital Projects Update

• The long-anticipated First Street sewer and water line project is close to final design.
• Council discussed how to pace out other infrastructure needs in 2026, potentially leveraging grant funding and intergovernmental support.
• City leadership also emphasized the strain on existing staff, with multiple departments stretched thin.

🧑‍⚖️ Budget planning for 2026 will continue in early Q1, with Council poised to consider rate adjustments and departmental resource needs.

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🏘️ Stevenson Planning Commission

📅 December 11 – Short-Term Rental Rules Finalized

The Planning Commission finalized a detailed policy framework for regulating short-term vacation rentals (STRs) in Stevenson, aiming to balance the needs of homeowners, neighbors, and the city’s tourism economy.

🏡 Key Highlights:

• STRs allowed in both owner-occupied and non-owner-occupied homes
• A 5% citywide cap on total STR licenses, with a waiting list when full
• Owners limited to 2 units: one primary residence and one secondary unit (like an ADU)
• STR operators must be city residents

📜 Licensing & Inspections:

• Licenses renewed annually; non-renewal results in loss of spot
• Health and safety inspections required every 2 years
• Proof of $1 million liability insurance is mandatory

🚫 Use Limits:

• No commercial events (e.g. weddings)
• Maximum occupancy = 2 people per bedroom, plus 2
• One off-street parking space required per 2 bedrooms

📬 Neighborhood Protections:

• Required notification to adjacent neighbors
• Posting of “Good Neighbor Guidelines” and emergency contact info on-site

The final ordinance language will go to City Council for approval in early 2026, with the goal of adoption by spring. You can read the draft language in the full agenda packet from this meeting.

🗣 During public comment, Bernie Bacon praised the commission’s balanced approach. Mary Miller suggested better signage for meeting notices and flagged ongoing budget concerns heard at a League of Women Voters forum.

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🏞️ Underwood Parks & Recreation

🎉 In great news for local recreation, Underwood Parks & Recreation District announced that it secured a $121,865 grant from the Washington State Recreation and Conservation Office (RCO) to upgrade athletic spaces used by youth and families across the area.

🏀🏏 The funding will support:

• New surfaces and nets for the tennis and basketball courts
• Backstop upgrades and regrading for the baseball field
• Enhanced accessibility and safety features

The grant was made possible through a mix of local volunteer coordination and community grant-writing support (including from this writer) and was celebrated as a major investment in equitable rural recreation.

The December meeting also included the swearing in of new commissioners, updates on the Cook-Underwood sign facelift and community garden planning, and early preparations for the January Spaghetti Night fundraiser in partnership with Friends of Underwood. Commissioners confirmed that park clean-up projects will resume in spring, and a new storage area will be painted over winter break to protect equipment.

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🍝 Save the Date: Spaghetti Night – Jan 24

Join Underwood Parks & Rec and Friends of Underwood for a cozy community fundraiser!
📍 Underwood Community Center
🕔 Doors open at 5pm (wine, beer, conversation)
🍽 Dinner starts at 6pm: spaghetti, salad, rolls, cookies
🎟️ Tickets sold in group waves of 16–20 to manage flow
🍷 Beer and wine available for purchase

Come support park upgrades, enjoy a meal with neighbors, and help raise funds for local recreation improvements!

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⚡ Skamania PUD Board of Commissioners

📅 December 2 & 23 – Clean Energy & Year-End Actions

📈 Audit Clean Bill of Health:
At a special public meeting on December 23, PUD leaders received a clean exit report from their Clean Energy Transformation Act (CETA) audit, confirming that Skamania PUD continues to meet state standards.

💰 Board Actions on December 2:

• Passed Resolutions 2888–2892, covering investment policy, 2026 board schedule, and financial transfers
• Transferred:
  • $227,720 to the Carson water construction fund
  • $80,883 to Underwood water construction fund
• Approved over $1 million in vouchers, including payments for system upgrades and wildfire preparedness

📨 The PUD also reported 250 customers signed up for paperless billing during its recent outreach campaign.

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📅 What’s Next

• Stevenson City Council kicks off budget workshops in January
• STR ordinance heads to public hearings
• Underwood prepares to implement RCO grant improvements
• PUD prepares for upcoming rate review and grid resiliency discussions